DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42779#0257
FOR WORKS IN HARD AND SOFT STONE 185
The size of the flat chisel varied, to judge from the surviv-
ing marks, from a narrow blade of about 0-5 cm. in width to
1 or 2 cm. Rarely, as in the case of a bearded head in the
Louvre,1 a chisel with an extremely narrow blade of some
2 mm. breadth was used for minute work. In the head in
question the oblique strokes are clearly seen over the entire
surface. But a tool with so small a blade is hard
to differentiate from a punch in its methods and
achievements. No doubt tools like this were used
in archaic times for details of face and feature.
7. The claw-chisel. As has been explained above
(p. 127) there is reason to believe that this tool
came into use soon after the middle of the sixth
century. At present no evidence for its earlier
use is available. Nor are its traces found on
sculpture in soft stones, although in hard lime-
stone of the Attic or Anatolian type it is usually em-
ployed.
This type of instrument allows of considerable variety.
Its teeth can vary in size from a fraction of a millimetre to
nearly 2 millimetres in width and the number of teeth on the
edge of the claw can vary, that is to say, the area affected
by the teeth may be as wide as 3 cm. or as narrow as 1.
Further, the teeth can be pointed so as to dig well into the
marble or they can be blunt so as to pare the surface only.
It is in fact a tool of very considerable adaptability.
The claw is very widely used by all sculptors at all periods
after the middle of the sixth century. In Greek times its use
remained more or less constant for round sculpture and high
relief: that is to say, it was not extensively used at one time
for primary work and confined at another only to secondary
work and detail. Its use became necessary after the statue
had achieved its complete outline and was within a centi-
metre or so of the final surface. It was exactly at this point
1 Langlotz, Friihgriechische Bildhauerschulen, PI. 63.
B b
Fig.68.
Claw-chisel.
3904
The size of the flat chisel varied, to judge from the surviv-
ing marks, from a narrow blade of about 0-5 cm. in width to
1 or 2 cm. Rarely, as in the case of a bearded head in the
Louvre,1 a chisel with an extremely narrow blade of some
2 mm. breadth was used for minute work. In the head in
question the oblique strokes are clearly seen over the entire
surface. But a tool with so small a blade is hard
to differentiate from a punch in its methods and
achievements. No doubt tools like this were used
in archaic times for details of face and feature.
7. The claw-chisel. As has been explained above
(p. 127) there is reason to believe that this tool
came into use soon after the middle of the sixth
century. At present no evidence for its earlier
use is available. Nor are its traces found on
sculpture in soft stones, although in hard lime-
stone of the Attic or Anatolian type it is usually em-
ployed.
This type of instrument allows of considerable variety.
Its teeth can vary in size from a fraction of a millimetre to
nearly 2 millimetres in width and the number of teeth on the
edge of the claw can vary, that is to say, the area affected
by the teeth may be as wide as 3 cm. or as narrow as 1.
Further, the teeth can be pointed so as to dig well into the
marble or they can be blunt so as to pare the surface only.
It is in fact a tool of very considerable adaptability.
The claw is very widely used by all sculptors at all periods
after the middle of the sixth century. In Greek times its use
remained more or less constant for round sculpture and high
relief: that is to say, it was not extensively used at one time
for primary work and confined at another only to secondary
work and detail. Its use became necessary after the statue
had achieved its complete outline and was within a centi-
metre or so of the final surface. It was exactly at this point
1 Langlotz, Friihgriechische Bildhauerschulen, PI. 63.
B b
Fig.68.
Claw-chisel.
3904